Anastas Mikoyan vs Friedrich Merz

Mikoyan joined the Bolshevik faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party. This decision aligned him with Lenin's revolutionary movement, setting the course for his long political career in the Soviet Union.

Mikoyan was appointed People's Commissar for Trade of the USSR. He oversaw the implementation of Stalin's industrialization policies and the collectivization of agriculture, managing food supply and distribution.

During Stalin's Great Purge, Mikoyan was one of the few top Bolsheviks who survived without being executed or imprisoned. He continued to hold high office, demonstrating his political survival skills.

Mikoyan was appointed First Deputy Premier under Nikita Khrushchev. He played a key role in de-Stalinization and economic reforms, including the introduction of the sovnarkhoz system.

Mikoyan became Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, the nominal head of state of the USSR. He served until 1965, when he was forced to retire by Leonid Brezhnev.

After a decade away from frontline politics, Merz returned to run for the CDU leadership. He had left politics in 2009 to pursue a business career, including roles on the boards of BlackRock and other companies.

Merz lost the CDU leadership election to Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer in 2018. The defeat was a setback, but he remained a prominent figure in the party and eventually won the leadership in 2022.

As CDU leader, Merz advocated for economic liberalization, including tax cuts, deregulation, and a more market-oriented energy policy. His positions marked a shift from the centrist policies of Angela Merkel.

Friedrich Merz was elected as the leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), succeeding Armin Laschet. He became the main opposition leader in Germany, positioning the CDU for the next federal election.